Question PC won't boot after installing my old ssd.

[Silverxvi]

Hi guys,

I recently installed an older ssd into my pc because i needed more storage, and was planning on using the drive as a backup drive. After i installed it, my PC hasn't booted properly at all. Initially it started booting from the old ssd instead of my main ssd. windows went through an update cycle and so i shut it down after that was complete. Now every time i try to boot the pc it wont boot from either ssd properly. All i get now is windows trying to boot and stuck on the windows logo loading screen, then after a shutdown it goes into "Preparing Automatic Repair" and then i just get a black screen with a cursor, regardless of which drive i try to boot from. I've tried changing boot priorities, i've tried a hard shutdown 3 times to try to get into recovery and that hasn't worked for some reason, and i've tried anything else i could think of to try and get it to boot.
I don't know what else to do so i thought someone here might know since the forums here have generally been quite helpful for fixing issues.
Please help!
Thank you.

 

[rgd1101]

did you take out the older ssd?

 

[AllanGH]

The fast path to taking care of this is to delete all partitions on both SSDs, and reinstall windows to the new drive, and format the old drive for file storage.

 

[Silverxvi]

did you take out the older ssd?

No i didn't. both ssd's are currently plugged in. both power and sata running to them.

 

[Silverxvi]

The fast path to taking care of this is to delete all partitions on both SSDs, and reinstall windows to the new drive, and format the old drive for file storage.

Honestly i was worried this would be the only way to fix, however I have no idea how to do either of those things haha. I guess i'll look into it. Thanks

 

[rgd1101]

if it break after you put the old ssd in, the first thing would be take it out and see if that the issue

 

[Silverxvi]

if it break after you put the old ssd in, the first thing would be take it out and see if that the issue

Already tried that, multiple times. Also tried changing all boot priorities.
I've made a recovery usb and tried to boot from that but i just get a black screen and a cursor when i try to boot from that for some reason. Can't access any recovery options.
Has anyone had the same/similar issue and know of a fix without losing all the data on my main ssd?

 

[AllanGH]

Have you cleared the BIOS / UEFI?

 

[Silverxvi]

Have you cleared the BIOS / UEFI?

I set it back to default settings yes if that'd what you mean?

 

[ElectrO_90]

This happened to me once, and i ended up installing windows again. Sorry for the bad news, but you don't lose any of your work, just have to reinstall everything... gah

 

[Silverxvi]

This happened to me once, and i ended up installing windows again. Sorry for the bad news, but you don't lose any of your work, just have to reinstall everything... gah

I figured this could be the case. I've just been trying to avoid losing any data if possible. I might get a brand new ssd or hdd and a new copy of windows to boot from, hopefully that might fix the issue.

 

[ElectrO_90]

I figured this could be the case. I've just been trying to avoid losing any data if possible. I might get a brand new ssd or hdd and a new copy of windows to boot from, hopefully that might fix the issue.

What is on the old SSD that you need? If nothing, install windows onto that one. Save you money - plus you don't need to format it.
Just install windows 10 over the top if possible

 

[AllanGH]

I set it back to default settings yes if that'd what you mean?

I was thinking of the "Remove the battery, short the BIOS clear jumper for 30 seconds" thing, actually.

 

[Silverxvi]

I was thinking of the "Remove the battery, short the BIOS clear jumper for 30 seconds" thing, actually.

Not a bad idea. I'll try that! Thanks!

 

[Silverxvi]

What is on the old SSD that you need? If nothing, install windows onto that one. Save you money - plus you don't need to format it.
Just install windows 10 over the top if possible

Thats a good point, I'll give that a shot too. Just honestly... not sure how to do that when i can't get into recovery mode on the drive. will i need another pc with a sata -> usb adapter?

 

[ElectrO_90]

You need to download Windows 10 from MS website, burn it to USB (you don't need a key to install it, only to activate it)
But that does mean you need a PC and a USB and of course, internet.

 

[Silverxvi]

You need to download Windows 10 from MS website, burn it to USB (you don't need a key to install it, only to activate it)
But that does mean you need a PC and a USB and of course, internet.

Alright, i'll give it a try. Thanks my dude!